Alternating current relay employing alpha motor element



y 26, 1931. P. P. sosmsKl ALTERNATING CURRENT RELAY EMPLOYING A MOTOR ELEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1930 INVENTOR P. P. S osinsk," .74am

Maca

May 26, 1931. $Q$|N$Kl 1,807,349

ALTERNATING CURRENT RELAY EMPLOYING A MOTOR ELEMENT Fil ed April 7, 1930 2 sheeis-sheet 2 (D Q a D J 4 6 o 4 O E f 3 l a e f-" 74 9 & 12 o I 9 3 C 19 1i Z o 0 19 0 3d 6 g o o o 78 INVENTOR'. RPSosinski, Chi-W Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL P. SOSINSKI, 0P SWISSVALE,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA ALTERNATIN G CURRENT RELAY EMPLOYING A MOTOR ELEMENT Application filed April 7, 1930. Serial No. 442,137.

My invention relates to electrical relays, and particularly to relays of the type in which an armature comprising one or more ferrules is moved against biasing means by the combined inductive and repellent effect on'the ferrules of a periodic magnetic field concentrated inthe vicinity of the ferrules.

One object of my invention is to provide a relay of the type described which is substantially free from mechanical vibration or chatter.

I will describe one form of electrical relay embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, showing one form of relay embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the relay illustrated in Fig. 1, as it appears when viewed from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric view showing the magnetic structure and the armature for the relay illustrated in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all three views.

Referring to the drawings, the relay in the form here shown comprises a top plate A of suitable insulating material, such as porcelain, which serves as a support for all of the operating parts of the relay. Attached to the underside of the top plate A in any suitable manner, as by a framework here shown as consisting of a spider 2, and a plurality of vertical rods 1, is a field magnet designated in general by the reference character F. As best seen in Fig. 3, this field magnet comprises a-laminated core member 3, having four parallel legs 3, 3 3 and 3", and an integral back strap 3, elon ated air gaps 3, 3 and 3 being provided etween the legs adjacent the backstrap. The free ends of the legs 3 and 3 are bridged by a laminated bridging member 4, and the free ends of the legs 3 and 3 are bridged by a similar bridg ing member 6. The bridging members may be fastened to the legs in any suitable manner. For example, as here shown, the legs 3 and 3 are each providedwith a slot 3 which receives a corresponding tongue 4 on the laminated bridging member 4, the tongues 4 being held in place in the slots by means of bolts 5 which extend transversely through the legs and through the tongues. In similar manner, the legs 3 and 3 are each provided with a slot 3' which receives a tongue 6 on the bridging member 6, transverse bolts 7 serving to hold this bridging member in place. It will be apparent, therefore, that the core member 3 is provided with two separate magnetic paths, the upper path comprising the bridging member 4, the legs 3 and 3 and the portion of the backstrap 3, between the legs 3 and 3 and the lower path comprising the bridging member 6, the legs 3 and 3 and the portion of the backstrap 3 between the legs 3 and 3 Mounted on the bridging members 4 and 6, and located wholly at one side of the air gaps 3 and 3 are two energizing coils 8 and 9. The terminals 9 and 9 of coil 9 are connected, respectively, with terminal posts 10 and 11 mounted on the top plate A. The terminal 8 of coil 8 is also connected with the terminal post 10, but the other terminal 8 of this coil is connected to one terminal of suitable phase shifting means, here shown as a resistor 15. The'remaining terminal of the resistor 15 is connected with the terminal post 11. It will be apparent, therefore, that if a source of alternating current is connected across the terminal posts 10 and 11, currents which are displaced in phase will be supplied to the windings 8 and 9, and magnetic fields which are likewise displaced in phase will be set up in the upper and lower magnetic paths of the field magnet F.

The field magnet F controls an armature comprising two conducting ferrules 12 and 13 secured between the lower ends of two arms 14 (see Fig. 3). These ferrules may have any suitable shape, but as here shown, they are in the form of closed rectangular loops having flat sides. The ferrule 12 surrounds the leg 3' of the core member 3 and has its longer sides disposed in the air gaps 3 and 3 respectively, and the ferrule 13 surrounds the leg 3 and has its longer sides disposed in the air gaps 3 and 3*, respectively. The arms 14 are attached to a contact carrying rocker 16 pivotally mounted in trunnion screws 17 carried by brackets t ferrule, and these 18 suspended from the top plate A. It will be seen therefore that the ferrules 12 and 13 are free to move lengthwise along the air gaps 3, 3 and 3 The distance through which the ferrules can move is limited by two stop screws 19 and 19 which extend through suitable holes in the core member 3, and which are arranged to engage the opposite sides of the ferrule 13.

The rocker 16carries two contact fingers 20 and 22 which cooperate with two fixed contacts 20 and 22*, respectively, to close a contact 20-22 or 22-22, as'will be exlained hereinafter. The fixed contact 20 is attached-to a terminal post 21 mounted on the topplate A, and similarly, the fixed contact'22 is attached to a terminal post 23 mounted on the top plate A. The rocker 16 also carries an ad ustable counterweight 24 which serves to bias the rocker and hence the armature to the position in which the ferrule 13 engages the stop screw 19 as shown in Fig. l.

The operation of the relay as a whole is as follows: When no source of electromotive force. is connected across the terminalposts 10and 11, the windings 8 and 9 are deenergized and no fluxes are created in the core member 3. The rocker 16 is then held by the counterweight 24 in the position in which the ferrule 13 engages the stop screw 19 as shown in the drawings, and the part-s are so arranged that under these conditions .contact 20-20 is closed, and contact 22-22 is open. When a source of alternating electromotive force is connected across the terminals' 10 and 11, however, the windings 8 and 9 are then supplied with periodic currents which'are displaced in phase, so that periodic fluxes which are displaced in phase areset up in the two magnetic paths of the core member 3 as pointed out hereinbefore, A portion of the flux lines set up in the upper path passes through the ferrule 12 in a direction parallel to the axis of the ferrule so as to be interlinked therewith, and, as these lines fluctuate in strength, there is induced in the ferrule 12 a periodic electromotive force which cause a periodic circulating current to flow therein; Another portion of the flux lines which are set up in the upper path leaks a'crosstheair gap 3 so that these flux lines pass through substantially right angles to the axis of the latter flux lines react with the induced current in the ferrule to exert a periodic mechanical force on the ferrule which tends to move'the ferrule to the position in which it will link the least number of flux lines, or to the left-in Fig.1. In similar manner, a portion of the flux lines set up in the lower magnetic path interlink the ferrule 13 and cause a periodic circulating current to flow therein, which current, in turn, reacts with flux lines which leak across the air gap the body of the ferrule 12 at .3 to exert a periodic mechanical force on this ferrule which tends to move this ferrule toward the left in Fig. 1. As a result, the armature as a whole swings toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, to the position in which the ferrule 13 engages the stop screw 19, thereby moving rocker 16 to the position in which contact 20-20 is open and contact 2222 is closed. The armature will then remain in this position until the supply of current to the windings 8 and 9 is interrupted, at which time the counterweight 2 1 causes the armature to return to its normal position in which it is illustrated in the drawings. Contact 2222 is then opened and contact 2O-20 again becomes closed.

It should be particularly pointed out that since the periodic fluxes which are set up in the upper and lower magnetic paths of the core 3 are displacedin phase, the mechanical forces which are exerted on the armature by the interaction of the periodic currents flowing in the ferrules 12 and 1 3 with thefiux which leaks across the air gaps 3? and 3*, respectively, reach their maxima at different times, so that the resultant force which causes the armature to move toward the left against the bias of counterweight 24 is nearly uniform in strength. 'As a result, the armature is substantially free from mechanical vibration or chatter.

It should also be pointed out that although in illustrating my invention I have shown the armature as comprising two ferrules 12 and 13, substantially the'same results may be obtained by the use of a single ferrule which surrounds both legs 3 and 3 of the core member 3, and which has its upper and lower flat sides extending through the air gaps 3 and 3? respectively.

'Although I have herein shown and 'described only one form of electrical relay embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A relay comprising a core member having two ma netic paths eachincluding a pair of legs which are connected at one end by a backstrap and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means for; creating periodic fluxes in each of said paths, and a movable armature provided with means reacting with the flux in both of said air gaps to exert a forceon the armature. 7

2. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each includinga pair of legs which are connected at one end by a backstrap and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means located wholly on oneside of 'said air gaps for creating periodic fijuxes in each of said paths,i

and a movable armature rovided with means reacting with the fluxin both of said air gaps to exert a force on the armature.

3. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each including a pair of legs which are connected at one end by a backstrap and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means for creating periodic fluxes in said two magnetic paths which are displaced in phase, and a movable armature provided with means reacting with the flux in both of said air gaps to exert a substantially steady force on the armature.

4. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each including a pair of legs which are connected at one end by a backs-trap and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means located wholly on the opposite side of said air gaps from said backstrap for creating periodic fluxes in said two magnetic paths which are displaced in phase, and a movable armature provided with means which reacts with the flux in both said air gaps to exert a steady force on said armature.

5. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each including a pair of legs which are. connected at one end by a backstrap and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means for creating periodic fluxes in said two magnetic paths, and a movable armature comprising a ferrule which surrounds at least one of said legs at the associated air gap.

6. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each including a pair of legs which are connected at one end by a backstrap and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means for creating in said two magnetic paths periodic fluxes which are displaced in phase, and a movable armature comprising a ferrule which surrounds at least one of said legs at the associated air gap.

7. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each including a pair of legs which are connected at one end by a backstrap and which havean air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means located wholly on the opposite side of said air gaps from said backstrap for creating in said two magnetic paths periodic fluxes which are displaced in phase, and a movable armature comprising a ferrule which surrounds at least one of said legs at the associated air gap.

8. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each including a pair of legs which are connected at one end by a backstrap and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means for creating periodic fluxes in said two magnetic paths, and a movable armature comprising two ferrules one surrounding one leg of each pair at the associated air gap.

9. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each including a pair of legs which are connected at one end by a backstrap and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, means for creating in said two magnetic paths periodic fluxes which are displaced in phase, and a movable armature comprising two ferrules one surrounding one leg of each pair at the associated air gap.

10. A relay comprising a core member provided with four legs connected together at one end by a backstrap, and having air gaps between them adjacent the backstrap, means for bridging the free ends of two of said legs to form one magnetic path, means for bridging the free ends of the remaining two legs to form another magnetic path, means for creating in said two magnetic paths periodic fluxes which differ in phase, and an armature provided with two ferrules one of which surrounds a leg of each magnetic path at an associated air gap.

11. A relay comprising a core member provided with four legs connected together at one end by a backstrap and having air gaps between them adjacent the backstrap, means for bridging the free ends of two of said legs to form one magnetic path, means for bridging the free ends of the remaining two legs to form another magnetic path, means lo cated wholly on the opposite side of said air gap from said backstrap for creating in said two magnetic paths periodic fluxes which differ in phase, and an armature provided with two ferrules one of which surrounds a leg of each magnetic path at said air gaps.

12. A relay comprising a core member provided wtih four legs connected together at one end by a backstrap and having air gaps between them adjacent the backstrap, a first bridging member for connecting the free ends of two of said legs together to form a first magnetic path, a. second bridging member for connecting the free ends of the remaining two legs together to form a second magnetic path, means associated with said first bridging member for creating a periodic flux in said first magnetic path, means associated with said second bridging member for creating a periodic flux in said second magnetic path which is displaced in phase from the periodic flux in said first magnetic path, and a movable armature comprising two ferrules one of which surrounds a leg of each path at the associated air gap, whereby periodic currents are induced in said ferrules by the flux which threads the associated leg which currents react with the flux in said air gaps to produce a substantially steady force on said armature.

13. A relay comprising a core member provided with four legs connected together at one end by a backstrap and having air gaps between them adjacent the backstrap, a

first bridging member for connecting the free ends of a pair of said legs together to form a first magnetic path, a second bridging member for connecting the free ends of the remaining pair of legs together to form a second magnetic path, a first coil which is at times supplied'with alternating current surrounding said first bridging member for creating in said first magnetic path a periodic flux, a second coil which is at times supplied with current which is displaced in phase from the current supplied to said first coil surrounding said second bridging member for at times creating in said secondmagnetic path a periodic flux which is displaced in phase with the flux in said first magnetic path, and a movable armature comprising two ferrules one surrounding .a. leg of each said pair at the associated air gap and adapted to react with the fluxes in said air gaps to produce a. substantially steady force on said armature.

14. A relay comprising a core member having two magnetic paths each including a pair of legs which are connected together at one end by a backstrap and at the other end by ,a bridging member and which have an air gap between them adjacent the backstrap, two

coils one located on each bridging member means for supplying said two coils with currents which are displaced in phase, and a movable armature comprising two ferrules one surrounding one leg of each pair at the associated air gap.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PAUL P. SOSINSKI. 

